The Chain-Smoking Merchant Lord's Offer
With that, the woman took a deep drag from her cigarette and blew another long stream right into Idi's face.
"Why are you doing this..."
"How much to fuck you?"
"This isn't that kind of place..."
Idi covered her nose and mouth with her hand, mumbling her response thickly.
The woman eyed Idi's breasts and hips with a lecherous gaze, her drooping eyes radiating a slutty aura.
"With a body like that, you could make a killing."
She extended her hand to the side again. One of her underlings placed a money pouch in her palm. It was heavy enough that her hand sagged slightly under the weight.
"This should at least buy me a taste, right?"
The woman held the pouch out to Idi, but Idi shook her head and backed away.
"No... really, it's not that kind of place..."
"Don't like men? I could show you how girls have fun together."
The woman blabbered on without a care for the stares around her. People listening to Kosa's song began turning their heads one by one.
Under the woman's attitude and the growing attention, Idi tensed up and started sweating. Dark patches quickly bloomed under her arms and along her back.
That bitch messing with Idi is one thing, but if I let this slide, it'll ruin the vibe.
I approached them.
"Ma'am, this isn't a brothel."
"You the owner?"
"That's right. And put out the cigarette. Or step outside to smoke and come back in."
The woman looked me up and down, then smirked and demonstratively took a drag.
"Sorry, but I can't go even an hour without lighting up."
"Then get out. No smoking inside our inn."
I pointed toward the door.
She didn't even glance that way, just stared straight at me and snorted.
"First inn I've seen that treats customers like this. Fine, got it."
She flicked the cigarette to the floor and ground it out under her heel.
"Happy now?"
Idi scratched her head, speechless at the woman's brazenness. As I stared at the filthy, trampled floor, the woman flicked a gold coin my way.
"Bring the most expensive booze you've got."
I snatched the coin midair and grinned.
"This'll cover the cleaning fee. Now please leave the inn."
"Told me to put out the smoke, and now you're kicking me out?"
"Can't treat you like a customer if you act like an uncultured pig."
The men sitting behind her twitched, looking ready to jump up any second.
"Hmmm..."
The woman propped her chin on her hand, staring up at me intently. Her drooping eyes felt unpleasantly sticky, like oil.
"Just as I heard... not your average shopkeeper. What are you, anyway? What's your deal?"
"Innkeeper."
I matched her informal tone with my own, and finally one of the men shot to his feet with a low growl.
"Cheeky bastard... who the hell do you think you're talking to like that?"
"Who else? Grancis Trading Company leader, right?"
I'd guessed their identity the moment they walked in. Unfamiliar faces, overbearing attitude, arrogant woman, subservient men, heavy money pouch. It was surprising that the massive company's owner was a woman, but I wasn't completely in the dark about who they were.
"Don't interfere with business. Just leave."
"Not here to cause trouble. Just want to talk for a bit."
The proxy leader smiled as if I were a sulky child, waving the money pouch she'd meant for Idi.
"I'd like to buy a little of your time. What do you say?"
"Inn's not for sale."
"You think I give a shit about this dump?"
She scanned the inn hall with a look of disdain.
"Want to discuss business. Might be useful for you too."
A chance to talk one-on-one with Grancis Trading Company's proxy leader... Sure, she's the one wreaking havoc on the city, but sending her packing feels like a waste. There's got to be a reason she came here in person. And who knows—maybe I can turn this around completely. At the very least, I might glean her plans.
I nodded curtly and headed for the inn door first. The proxy rose, glancing at Idi.
"See you later?"
"Uh... yeah..."
A luxurious carriage drawn by six horses waited in front of the inn. The passenger compartment was as long as two regular carriages joined end to end.
"It's cold out. Shall we talk inside the carriage?"
"Whatever."
The interior of the proxy's carriage was oddly elaborate. Up front, a sturdy table and chairs were bolted to the floor. The walls held racks of wine, drinks, and crystal glasses, all secured.
The rear was curtained off. I peeked behind it to see a bed.
"Long trips mean eating and sleeping in the carriage."
"Feels like a boat."
"Close enough. Sit."
As we sat at the table, she personally uncorked a wine bottle and filled our glasses.
"No poison. Safe to drink."
"Dunno. With your track record, you'd do it."
She laughed and took a sip first. Crossing her legs across from me, she swirled her glass and eyed me.
"I'm Galia Grancis, proxy leader of Grancis Trading Company."
"Bertrand Balder. So not the actual leader?"
"Father's illness is advanced, so I'm running things now. No issues there."
"Fair enough. Man or bitch, long as we talk straight."
She twitched at that but soon smiled. Opening a metal case on the table, she took out a cigarette, lit it, and inhaled.
"Heard about you. Collapsed a building under construction, left a bunch of my guys half-dead."
"Collapsed? That was an accident. And be grateful your men made it back alive."
"Amusing."
Galia laughed, blowing smoke from her nose and mouth.
"Inn with dwarves, black magic curses, and demons. What the hell kind of place is this?"
I sipped my wine silently. Couldn't place the exact vintage, but the aroma and taste screamed expensive and aged.
"Offered eight thousand gold for the inn, and you turned it down? Think it's worth that much?"
"Owner sets the price. And it's not for sale."
"Wasn't dying to buy it anyway. Could just build a new one."
"Then why bother coming here yourself?"
Galia eyed me, then asked as if it just occurred to her.
"How old are you?"
"Old enough. If the informal bugs you, use honorifics first."
"Not bad. Handsome enough to let slide."
Her brown eyes roamed my face.
"Reason I came: curiosity. Couldn't wrap my head around some innkeeper clashing head-on with our company."
"Steal someone's rice bowl, expect blood. Right?"
"Of course. Unspoken rule in this business."
"Keep it up, and you'll see more."
Galia chuckled, propping her chin on the table and staring.
"I know a fair bit about you, Bertrand Balder."
"Nothing exciting."
"Everything since you rolled into town and started business has been intriguing."
I waited for her to continue.
Didn't seem like a shakedown for the inn. Dragging up my past out of nowhere hinted at some hidden agenda I didn't know about.
"Rosens is special. A backwater city that rivaled major hubs—then turned ghost town overnight. But it bounced back."
"Get to the point? I know Rosens' history."
"Impatient. Alone with a charming woman like me, shouldn't you drag it out?"
I couldn't help but burst out laughing at the absurdity.
Galia Grancis was pretty enough, sure. Decadent vibe or whatever. But compared to my girls, she was just a rich, cranky merchant.
"Cocky. But I don't kiss girls who reek of tobacco."
"No worries. Won't kiss you. Maybe that ditzy bimbo earlier."
"To each their own."
"Everyone likes pretty girls, man or woman."
Galia stubbed out her cigarette in the ashtray, then lit a fresh one.
"Anyway... Right when the capital wrote off the city as unsalvageable, you open an inn. Snagged cheap buildings left and right, too."
"And?"
She struck a match, pausing to light up. The cigarette tip glowed red as she inhaled deeply.
"Phew..."
Thick, acrid smoke poured from her nose and mouth, swirling in the air. Through the haze, Galia fixed her gaze on me and spoke.
"Work for our company."